Each of us Watercooler Artists take turns hosting the challenge each week; that means that when it’s your week, you get to choose the sketch, or the colours, or the technique -depending on which type of challenge is for that week.

So here we are – with a sketch challenge week, and this is the sketch I chose:

Isn’t this an interesting sketch, with lots of different elements to it? Yet I liked the symmetry of it, which is surprising for me, as I usually go for asymmetrical.

Anyway, when I put together the card, it was just before my youngest son’s 18th birthday. Can you see where this is going? Yup – his birthday card became my challenge card! Ssshhh – he doesn’t know! 😉 But it’s okay – because his birthday was almost 2 weeks ago, so he’s already received his card. No spoiler alert needed (not that this particular 18 year old follows his mother’s blog!)

Here is the card:

The funny thing is that he’s been hearing me squealing about how cute & funny I think the ‘put your party pants on’ saying is – so he had a good laugh when he saw it on his card! Well, he’s a very trendy dresser….aware of fashions and trends. So I thought it was appropriate!

I started with a card base of Melon Mambo cardstock, and layered a panel of the It’s My Party DSP on top. Next came another smaller panel of Melon Mambo cardstock, with strips of Crushed Curry cardstock across it, which were then covered with another layer of the DSP. I just love the balloons! Very party-ish 🙂

On scrap pieces of Whisper White cardstock, I used the Balloon Celebration stamp set to stamp the balloons in Melon Mambo, Mint Macaron and Crushed Curry ink. It’s hard to tell in the picture, but I did add the shading to the bottom portion of the balloons, in the matching ink colours. I then used the Balloon Bouquet Punch and punched out each balloon. Before adding them to the panel, I stamped the single balloon strings (also from Balloon Celebration) with Archival Black ink, then used Dimensionals to pop up the balloons.

I stamped the sentiment from the Sale-A-Bration Party Pants set onto Whisper White in Melon Mambo ink, and used the Tags & Labels Framelits to die cut it using the Big Shot. I lightly sponged Mint Macaron ink around the edges using a sponge dauber, then popped it over top of another strip of Crushed Curry cardstock.

To finish off the card, I added the Candy Dots on each of the strips of Crushed Curry cardstock.

Of course, since the card was for my son’s birthday, I had to do a little something special on the inside – have a look:

I randomly stamped the circles of dots in Mint Macaron and Crushed Curry, and did a pop- up of balloons in the same colours as on the front; all were stamped and punched, then glued onto the pop up portion. I hand drew the balloon strings using the Stampin’ Write Marker in Basic Black, and used a retired set for the sentiment.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my (my son’s) card! I’d love to read any comments you’d like to leave, whether about my card, or the challenges. Then please head over to the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge page and check out what the rest of the Watercooler Artists have created – their cards are awesome!

I’ll be looking for YOUR card to be linked to the challenge – have fun creating!

I've always liked to create things, but I'm not a great artist, or sculptor, or any type of 'traditional' artist - but I love to stamp and create! I love the satisfaction of a completed project; whether a 3D item, or a card, or scrapbook page - as long as it can create a smile, evoke a feeling, or some type of reaction in the recipient. I hope you will enjoy sharing my creations, and occasional ramblings; I'd enjoy having you stamp and create with me! :) If you're in Canada, you can Join My Team as a SU! demonstrator. If you're in the Great Vancouver area, you're welcome to join my classes - we always have fun!

I’m so glad you like the card, Carol! The pop up is actually quite easy; Create the inner piece of the card at 5 1/4″ x 8 1/4″ (so 1/4″ less than the card base). Score at 4 1/8″ (middle) and fold on score line. Keeping the inside piece folded in half, place it on the Diagonal Score Board, and score from the 3 1/2″ mark to the outside edge of the card. Open the piece, and gently fold the score lines inward. That creates the part that will ‘pop up’ when the card is opened! Attach you balloons or other embellishments to the folded area, keeping them within the boundaries of the card (I did another version using a butterfly); decorate as you like and the attach to the inside of the card base. I’ll do up a visual tutorial soon – please feel free to email me if you have any other questions! debsmart@shaw.ca